OPENING OLD SIRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11482, 2 September 1915, Page 8

OPENING OLD SIRES.

a Kirais jjce o: th; <tr.::e. I [FnOM ()t.-R CoHKESrOVHF.N'T.] WELLINGTON, September 1. A Wfltorsi'J > stnko echo reverberated through the Jegirihiiiro hall this afternoon when Uio Public Pet lions Commit! eo reported ori baK a dozen peti- ' tons from Rettiwrs in Auckland province, who loaned horns and other equipment to the special constables, but failed to get. their property back when the strike was over. In the majority of the cases the committee recommended the Government to favourably comidor tha claims for compensation A strong protest against paying anything to iho pat fciouers was made by Mr Webb, who said he understood the petitions arose out of the strike, idle objected to the committee's recommendation. "Two .years ago there was a strike ■ \ A nrmb?.r: Let the dead past bury its dead. Mr Webb: That's all right for the guiltv conscience, but I will be glad t.> forget the f.trike when victimisation is done away with. He suggested sett'inf up conninttoo "to into th© whole quest, on of the speeding ol money on special con&tabies. because he believed there was a lot. ol political corruption Between th© Farmers' Union and the Government. " This is opening up an old sore at a time when wa are suppose! to be cooperatine; for the safety of the Empire, said Mr"Poole. Ho was a member ot the Petitions Committee and after seeing how the first petition of tins sort, a Hamilton ..ettkrs claim for the value \ of a lost bridle ana saadle, was followed by others which were rushed through ; the committee he believed it would be wise to refer them back again. Mr Oliey expressed fmrpr.se at Mr Poole failing to enter las protest at thecommittee meeting. The vonimis*.oner 0 f Polios had reported that tne saaciie arid bridle had &een loaned and were missed. They could not be traced, and had the petitioner put in a claim at the time the Government coiud have dealt with it. , ~ Mr Co ate* ?aid that possibly the committee did not at first realise that a number of these petitions were to oome forward. The man could ill afford his loss, and he would have obtained the money from the Farmers Union had his claim been sent in Mr Young mentioned that a deputa- ; tion of persons who lost horses and ; other property during the strike wait- j <?d on the Prime Minister to sec-ure i compensation, but as all accounts had ; been closed he could do nothing. Ihe j Farmers' Union Strike Committee had i been disbanded and the Farmers' Union j at Hamilton declined to recognise tne j account. "This," said Mr Young, j " shows the fallacy of the Staw nanaing over its authority to irresponsible committees of control. The State shoulg have controlled tins from start to fin- j ish, then people who lost piopeity ; could have claimed it from the State.' j " it is a remarkable stats of thing > j that the House should take tip tims j I deciding whether a man ought to be i paid for an old saddle," commented Mr Forbes, who favoured letting the committee deal with the matter. _ Mr Isitt suggested that this and j ; similar petitions were rushed through j | the committee at a p&o© which daxzl~<i ■ him. The Reform members wanted to I I make time for a Reform caucus. j i Mr Veitch claimed to have discov- j ! ered a new aspect of the question. He i ■ nderstood that there was still a con- j I derablo amount of money owing for j j ~cpenses incurred in organising the , I pecial constables. To pa.is tnis claim j I would result in creating a bad pre- J i cedent. j ! After several other members had | I discussed other aspects, Mr Mornsby , > declared that he and a few friends., vj j j ,ave the timo of the Hou«, were will- j j ing to pay for th© old saddle if the j Petitions Committee would accept l it. j Mr Okey: Cash down! j The reports were referred back with- j out division. i